Solitude in modernity, far from being a monolithic experience, is mediated by the socio-spatial logics of urban and rural environments. As Cerrillo Vidal argues, urban solitude emerges as a paradoxical state—where isolation propels individuals toward the search for symbolic connection, fostering creativity amidst anonymity, whereas rural solitude manifests as a form of stoic permanence, shaped by depopulation and spatial inertia. This duality of solitude reveals the affective geographies of space, where the same emotional state adopts distinct rhythms depending on whether one remains by choice or necessity. Meanwhile, Bloomfield’s ethnography of squatted spaces in Concepción offers a contrasting narrative of collective engagement. The okupa centres, through their diverse and inclusive practices—art, debate, social action—forge an alternative public sphere, challenging dominant neoliberal urbanisms. Using floating observation and semi-structured interviews, the study uncovers how these spaces not only provide shelter but become symbolic laboratories for participatory citizenship, drawing actors from varied social and educational backgrounds into communal modes of interaction. Where solitude isolates in both city and countryside, squatted spaces invite convergence, difference, and affective solidarity. Together, these studies underline a central tension of urban life: while modern spaces may fragment social bonds, they also offer terrains for reconstruction of relationality, whether through introspection or collective inhabitation. Solitude thus becomes not only a symptom but a terrain for social critique, and squatting, not only resistance but also a blueprint for urban cohabitation.
Cerrillo Vidal, J. A. (2021). Estar solo en el campo, estar solo en la ciudad. URBS. Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales, 11(1), 9–23.
